Some cops in Tijuana resorting to slingshots

[MindPilot]

By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 23, 2007

TIJUANA – The drug cartels here are clearly Goliath, heavily armed with automatic weapons.

The municipal police, stripped of their guns this month as part of a corruption probe, are now playing the role of David. About 60 officers were issued slingshots yesterday for use on patrols in the tourist section of Avenida Revolucion and the business district of Zona Rio, according to a police department spokesman. Some of the officers bought bags of marbles for ammo.

“It's obviously very denigrating to them to be carrying these kinds of instruments, but they have to look for ways to provide security for the public,” spokesman Fernando Bojórquez said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20070123-9999-1m23sling.html

[slackmaster]

1. Never bring a slingshot to a gun fight

OTOH it's a lot better than having no weapon at all.

I heard on a local radio station that some officers were issued bags of ball bearings along with their Wrist Rockets.

[MindPilot]

2. I wondered if they got the "Dennis the Menace" style of slingshot

or the full-on surgical tubing wrist rocket.

The ball bearing issuance was mentioned in the MSNBC/AP report.

[damntexdem]

4. Slingshots don't kill.

Ball bearings do!

[damntexdem]

3. Hey, I don't trust them with those slingshots!

Let them use spitwads!

[pitohui]

5. well i think it is more of a protest than anything

somehow i can't picture a cop using a slingshot in the very busy rio plaza or the equally very busy avenida revolution

they just want to be seen by shoppers and have it mentally noted that they've been disarmed and maybe get some public protest going -- my guess anyhoo

[frylock]

6. you think they carry them in their holsters?

I had to LOL this morning as I read this in the Onion/Tribune.